The Barcelona forward netted early and added another in stoppage time as Hodgson's side fall to defeat at Wembley

It's not the end of the world. Certainly not the end of the World Cup.

But while the boos that greeted the final whistle were ridiculous and unfair, if Roy Hodgson wanted his contenders to play themselves on to the plane to Rio, he will have left Wembley a disappointed man.

Defeat to a side that demonstrated just how stiff a task England will face next summer was not in itself more than a setback. Indeed, back in 1998 Glenn Hoddle's side were also undone by a double from Chile's main hit-man.

For Marcelo Salas, read Alexis Sanchez, the best player on the pitch cashing in twice, exposing England's frailties as Roy Hodgson tasted home defeat for the first time.

Sanchez' finishing, one at the very start, the other at the close, ensured the right result, England's heaviest home loss since Sven Goran Eriksson played two different teams against Australia.

The truth, though, is that the likes of Brazil, Argentina, Spain and Germany come from another bracket altogether.

As World Cup auditions go, this was not impressive, too many of Hodgson's pretenders struck down by stage-fright, Nat Lofthouse's goal in Santaigo in 1953 still the last England have scored against Chile.

Yet it was the fluffing of lines by some of his more experienced actors that will be of greater concern.

If England are this ragged and unconvincing at the back when it actually matters, against the world's best, they will be heading for home very early.

Steve Bardens / The FA / Getty

100 club: Frank Lampard received a golden cap before kick-off

This was nothing like Hodgson's first-choice side yet Fraser Forster did little to suggest he is a serious contender for Joe Hart's job and while Adam Lallana deserves another chance, Jay Rodriguez may have a long wait for his second cap.

More worrying would have been the lapses committed by some of the players Hodgson wanted to make a real impact.

Gary Cahill and Phil Jones appeared to be speaking different languages to each other, so wayward was their communication.

Cahill, in particular, was an accident waiting to happen, eventually arriving in stoppage time when his last error led to Sanchez skipping clear to deftly clip over Forster.

Yet equally concerning was Leighton Baines, who did his hopes of starting the World Cup ahead of Ashley Cole potentially fatal damage.

Sloppy on the ball, his set-piece delivery poor, Baines was the most culpable when Sanchez punctured England's lively start in the seventh minute.

England looked to have escaped when Eduardo Vargas failed to get his shot away but the ball was recycled to the left.

Eugenio Mena centred, Cahill failed to intercept and Sanchez caught Baines on his heels, the ball past Forster before he could move. Hodgson will wonder if Cole would have done better.

From then on, Chile's pace and poise on the counter constantly undermined England, even if they created plenty of chances before the raft of second-half substitutions disrupted them.

"At a goal down it was always going to be difficult but we came back in to the game," said Hodgson.

"I thought to be frank that Chile were the better team tonight. They played very, very well."

""I think they are a good team first and foremost," Frank Lampard added.

"We knew that coming in to the game. It is a different style to what we have been playing recently. It was a great exercise for us."

Steve Bardens / The FA / Getty

Flash point: Jack Wilshere and Jean Beausejour argue a point

Forster was left exposed too often, England undressed too easily. It was a shame for the rookies. But in the end, you have to conclude it was a step too far for Rodriguez, his initial spark extinguished.

Lallana, by contrast, did enough to earn another opportunity, although the Southampton skipper will rue his big moment just before the break.

Not for the first time, Jack Wilshere and Wayne Rooney - who toiled manfully - linked up, with the United man teasing through.

With the target begging, though, Lallana delayed a fraction too long, his eventual shot dragged just wide of the target via a slight deflection. In truth, too, that was the last time England really threatened after that bright start.

Even before Sanchez struck, keeper Claudio Bravo kept out a fierce Jones header from Lallana's early free-kick and then somehow prevented James Milner's deflected cross beating him after a beautiful angled ball by Rooney.

And as England pressed for the leveller, the keeper kept out skipper Frank Lampard's rising free-kick and Wilshere's 20-yarder, either side of Milner's deflected shot going just over.

The second half, though, offered a shed-load of changes but little to enthuse about.

The impressive Sanchez , though, had the final word, sending the majority home with frustration in their heads. Hodgson has plenty to ponder.